A SoCal Saturday Urban Hike

[Scott Gilmore]

Much of the reason why I like Xmarks the Scot is because of the Show us your pics forum. This is usually the first place I go when I have the time to surf Xmarks.

When surfing this forum, I'm drawn to some poster's threads because they tell a tale, usually of a day trip or other outing; always of a place I get to visit vicariously. As I see it, the kilts shown in these threads are an enjoyable aside, but the places and people shown are far more interesting.

The thing is, where I am here in southern California doesn't always seem all that interesting to me. After all, I'm here all the time. But not everyone lives here, so I thought I'd take a shot at showing you lot what we do on a typical Saturday.

The only problem is that I'm not an every day kilt wearer as are some of you. I'm a special occasion type guy, so to get this thread started, I've included the obligatory kilt photo. This picture was taken last sumer, so it doesn't fit with the subject of the thread, but now there is an official kilt photo in the thread, so the moderators should be appeased.


Morrison ancient tank.

OK, now that that business is out of the way, let's see how we spend a typical Saturday. ...

[Scott Gilmore]

When I woke this morning, Hana very carefully demonstrated the correct demeanor for a Saturday. What a nice way to start the day.



I decided I'd start by showing the forum the knife I ordered from a Nepalese Web site I discovered while surfing Xmarks a while ago. The knife - which is very well made - water buffalo hide scabbard and demonstration stand cost a whopping seven dollars. The shipping cost thrice that (and was far less a bargain). The knife is small; about the size of a sgian dhu. My fountain pen is shown for scale.



While I was on the lanai taking the picture, I glanced up at our courtyard and thought you might like to see what greets us every day.



The weather this time of year is near perfect. Cool and cloudy in the mornings - just right for a vigorous urban hike. Let's go before it gets too hot!

[Panache]

...This picture was taken last sumer, so it doesn't fit with the subject of the thread, but now there is an official kilt photo in the thread, so the moderators should be appeased...

The Moderators are appeased, the thread may continue...

Cheers

Jamie

[Scott Gilmore]

On the way out, I saw this really attractive woman standing there.



We live in the Uptown District part of Hillcrest here in San Diego. We like it here because of the eclectic neighborhood and because it exploits the best qualities of this part of the world - the mild, dry climate. This is our entryway.



Out into the urban grind we headed, through the heart of Hillcrest on our way south, towards downtown.



I like the mix of architecture here in Hillcrest. This cottage is a particularly good example.



From Hillcrest our trek takes us through the Banker's Hill district on our way downtown. We took 1st Avenue, past the Royal Food Mart.



Next, the Spruce Street suspension bridge ...

[Scott Gilmore]

Hillcrest is on a mesa ringed by canyons. The lay of the land shapes neighborhoods, and I like the easy accessibility of urban-wild land interface. The Spruce Street suspension bridge allows locals to walk out of an urban area into a very natural setting within just a few paces.



Note that I'm sporting the very latest in bifurcated kilts. The middle front has been sown to the back and pockets added. Made of durable canvas fabric with plenty of pockets to carry the flotsam and jetsam of urban living (more on this later).

The bridge was built in 1912 when this part of San Diego was being developed.



Hey! There's that groovy chick again. The bridge sways and bounces when you walk on it.



Hard to believe we're within two miles of downtown San Diego in a densely populated neighborhood when standing here. We watched a mockingbird harass two red tailed hawks for a few minutes while passenger planes flew by just a short way off.

That pretty girl was stating to wonder if I was stalking her about now.



After this little diversion, we got back to our hike, but on the way ...

[Robin]

Lovely photos!

I feel a new long lasting topic coming up...

"Xmarkers and their natural habitat"

[Scott Gilmore]

Back on 1st Avenue, we saw this vibrant patch of San Diego Red bougainvillea. When visiting San Diego, many people don't realize that less than 100 years ago there were very few trees here at all - just some scrub oaks that rarely get over 25 feet high. This is the desert. Our water is imported, but we've put it to good use. The palms, eucalyptus, deciduous and coniferous trees are all imported.



A bit later on we came to the 1st Avenue bridge. The Brooklyn bridge it ain't, granted, but I like it nonetheless. It's 464 feet long and 104 feet high at its highest point.

By the way, all those trees you see are commonly referred to around here as fuel. (Shudder)



Hey! Who's that fine looking woman? Is she stalking me?



In 1911, the residents in this area floated a bond to build this bridge to connect the Banker's Hill area to downtown San Diego. On a clear day (which this, thankfully, wasn't), you can see halfway to Hawaii from here. Today we could see Coronado's North Island Naval Station. It's hard to make out, but there's an aircraft carrier parked there being refitted. The land beyond is Point Loma.



The bridge fords urban-wild land, not a river as it might in wetter parts of the world.

As we approach downtown, just as we come under the flight path for San Diego's Lindberg Field, there are some beautiful Victorians built when this was naught but a two-horse town and some folks had money ...

[Scott Gilmore]

This neighborhood has some beautiful old (for around here) Victorian houses.



I like the Jacaranda trees, but they're just a bit past their prime right now, sorry. A few weeks ago they were dense and heavy with blue-violet blooms.



We were making good time now just a couple of miles into the hike, so we decided to take a side trip to Little Italy ...

[Scott Gilmore]

On our way in on Cedar Street, we came across a new gelateria run by a nice garrulous young guy from Piza named Francesco. Time for an espresso and a little rest and refueling.



Hey, that girls crossing the street looks good coming and going.

Being all jittery from the coffee, we headed into Little Italy. Good pasta here, but there's more to this neighborhood than food.



We like the little John Basilone park literally built on a street corner. This is urban planning at its best.





The morning was wearing on by now, so we were getting hungry. For some reason we had a hankerin' for some good ol' down home Cal-Mex taqueria food. Hmmmm ...

[Scott Gilmore]

The great thing about San Diego is ... Mexico. It's right next door, and we get to eat really good Cal-Mex. When hungry, look for a little ramshackle restaurant. They're everywhere. Really!



See it? Look closely. This is right next to Little Italy.

There's that girl again. Sheesh!



Time for a little brunch San Diego style. Two breakfast burritos please. Extra salsa por favor!



Carol says "never eat anything bigger than your forearm."



The obligatory goofy burrito-eating face picture. Darn camera must be broken. I don't look like that!



Our mid-morning repast half decimated. Note the fancy-schmancy Italian water. This is our penance for eating burritos near Little Italy. Somehow it worked.



Oh, and the setting didn't suck at all. (I caught that pretty girl stuffing her face too!)

Our next destination was an unexciting bookstore on the other side of the gaslamp district ...